The 31st Piece Overturns the Game Board

While Seol was buying items at the Madness Shop and listening to the Field Guardian's request, Jamad and Tantuinu went through the first gateway at super speed—no, the expression 'went through' wasn't accurate.

Just as Seol said, they didn't do anything else but pass the gateway.

- In the Underground Garden, you can't take anything if you don't make an effort. However, as long as you avoid even the slightest offense, nothing will stand in your way.

From the first to the third gateway, they encountered the Field Guardian and the other Administrators of each territory, but they didn't engage in deep conversations with them. They just asked where the next area was.

"So it's here…"

"Is this the Old Pit?"

There were traces of a massive tree that had been destroyed beyond recognition.

Although it was now empty, with only the bark left, it was still overwhelmingly huge.

Was there anyone who knew why this tree was broken or why it was hollow?

The one closest to the world's secrets was Seol. And Jamad, due to having read his memories.

Jamad thought that if it was Seol, he might know all the secrets hidden in the Underground Garden.

"This is amazing… I can't believe the sheer scale of it."

Tantuinu was mesmerized by the wonderful scenery of the Underground Garden. She felt as if she had come to a secret garden in Pandea.

"Let's go in…"

The words that all the Administrators they had met so far had said.

- But did you make an appointment with Sleepyhead?

- Sleepyhead sleeps a lot, so it won't be easy for you to meet…

- Do you need a seal?

They made incomprehensible comments.

Jamad ignored them. He thought Seol would take care of them anyway.

"It seems to be this way. Let's go."

The Old Pit had a path along its walls that resembled a circular staircase. It was quite precarious, giving the impression that a single misstep would make you fall straight to the bottom.

Since the path was narrow, Tantuinu walked behind Jamad.

Jamad hadn't said much on their way here.

"Do you believe in Seol…?"

"What?"

"Aren't you worried? Aren't you concerned?"

Jamad would be lying if he said he wasn’t worried.

"…"

"We have to wait for the dragon here. Along with Seol, who might not even come."

"He will come."

Tantuinu's gaze wavered.

"Why do you trust that human so much? Trolls and humans have been enemies for a long time, right?"

"I don't know. What's the point of knowing such history? Seol is my brother, and he's never wrong."

"That seems like excessive trust."

"Trusting a reliable partner isn't blind faith or a stubborn belief—it's just trust."

"Why did Mother entrust the future to you…?"

"Who knows? Things have already begun, and a dragon is chasing me because of it. I’m just trying to find a way to deal with it."

"…"

"The ground is starting to become visible."

At Jamad's words, Tantuinu's glanced back. Just as Jamad said, they were almost at the bottom of the pit.

This was where Seol told them to wait while preparing their best attack.

Only after reaching the bottom of the pit did Tantuinu realize Seol's intentions.

"Seol was right. If it's here… He definitely won't have anywhere to hide."

"…"

Swoosh…

Jamad sat down on the ground and closed his eyes.

Whoosh…

Jamad quickly gathered a huge amount of shamanic power.

While watching Jamad, Tantuinu asked.

"Do you think you can successfully land an attack on Azanic?"

"I don't know."

"Then, why take such a gamble…"

"Seol said there's a possibility. So be quiet. You're the loudest dragon I've ever met."

Tantuinu became silent for a moment, then went to Jamad and placed both hands on his back.

"What are you doing?"

"Mother's energy is lingering inside you without being absorbed. If you make that grand power yours… You might have a chance."

"Hmph…"

Whir…

After confirming the raging energy of Tancreed inside him, Jamad vowed.

'I will definitely break through the wall here…'

A dragon would come here in a few hours.

That would be the decisive moment.

He just needed to keep his mouth shut and gather his strength.

Tancreed's words and traces had made him dizzy.

'This is your revenge. Tancreed, please lend me your strength.'

The violently behaving Earth's energy began to gather and solidify.

* * *

"Thank you! It was a good deal! I'm going to give you a token of my goodwill."

Tss…

A round seal was engraved on the back of his hand. On it was a drawn picture of a field.

[You have obtained the Field Guardian's seal.]

[Sleepyhead might meet you.]

'A seal too… Yes!'

If the gathered poisonous substances were the means of attack, the Administrators' seals were an important tool for repelling Azanic's pursuit.

Seol was planning to gather mysterious poisonous herbs and the Administrators' seals together.

'Since I've secured the Blink Flower and the seal, there's no reason to stay here any longer.'

Time was running out.

Upon recalling that Azanic was waiting outside of the ruins' door, waiting for it to reopen, Seol bid farewell to the Field Guardian.

"Yes! You will find a big cave if you go that way! If you go there, it will lead to the forest!"

"Thanks, take care."

"See you next time!"

The words 'see you next time.'

Seol found those words refreshing.

Those words were the ones that one of his strongest pieces, Charlie, hated the most while taking the Transmission Adventure.

He hated coming back to the Underground Garden and running errands that took him across the continent. It was too much.

As he awakened many Exceptional Skills during his Transmission Adventure, he cut all ties with the Underground Garden once it was over.

Seol thought he would never come back here.

'You never know what the future holds for you…'

Seol chuckled while watching the Field Guardian's departing figure.

His experiences here would definitely be a great help in the future. That's why he needed to prepare thoroughly without getting unnecessarily sentimental.

After a while, he arrived at the entrance of a large cave.

Seol recalled the map in his head and thought about how his path should continue.

Unlike common ruins, the Underground Garden had a linear structure.

In other words, he would eventually reach the heart if he just kept moving forward. If that were the case, he couldn't help but wonder if he wasn't in a disadvantageous situation.

It was a reasonable doubt. With only one path available, being caught by Azanic would mean death.

What could prevent such a situation was the gateway he was looking at now.

The first gateway, the second gateway, and the third gateway—the field, forest, swamp, and the Old Pit. These gateways, which looked like caves with high ceilings, were passages that connected different areas.

'Even Immortal passed through here before…'

The gateway was so huge that even the huge monster named Immortal could pass through it.

However, in the end, they were just gateways. So, it would be hard for them to exert any special resistance against beings like Azanic.

That was unless he came up with a trick.

'Originally, I would have used the Administrators…'

By using the Administrators, one could manipulate the gateways. However, that would require a lot of time and effort. That's why he needed to use another method.

He took out the Steel Silvergrass he had bought in bulk and began scattering them.

'I wonder if this should be enough.'

Steel Silvergrass was a very dangerous plant. Its hardness was comparable to steel. And it had the property of becoming even harder when exposed to fire.

It was bad as a material due to losing its rare properties if it was broken. But given the current situation…

'It's perfect as a barricade.'

Steel Silvergrass grew at an incredible speed, but Seol also scattered Intact Vitality Powder to further boost its growth.

As he dug the cave's floor, the seeds began to grow fiercely.

Crack—!

[You have cultivated an excellent Steel Silvergrass field.]

[Unexpected Talent! You have awakened Farming 1.]

[Collected crops have certain effects that influence the plant's growth.]

The cave was quickly filled with Steel Silvergrass.

'The next is…'

He finely ground the Blink Flower petals he had just obtained and spread them along with the Pungpung-i seeds and Intact Vitality Powder.

Crack—!

The Pungpung-i, shaped like a large box, quickly grew and filled in the gaps between the Steel Silvergrass.

Pungpung-i was a plant that would explode even with the slightest impact, scattering the spore inside.

And amazingly, it had excellent adaptability. So, if you fertilize it with powders from plants that are poisonous or have medicinal effects, the seeds would absorb those properties.

In other words, if the Pungpung-i exploded, the toxicity of the Blink Flower would immediately scatter in all directions.

'For now, this should be enough.'

Having blocked the first passageway, Seol headed straight to the next area.

After exiting the cave, a forest emerged before him.

Seol was surprised by the sight of all kinds of birds fluttering up to the trees.

This forest was full of bad memories.

"Hello! I'm the Forest Guardian!"

The Forest Guardian, who looked like a parrot, approached Seol and greeted him.

"Welcome to the forest, human!"

"Ah. yes."

Among the Administrators, the Forest Guardian was the most talkative one.

"Let me tell you a secret. You better stay quiet in Sleepyhead’s. Hehehe…"

"…"

"Are you curious about other secrets? Huh? Curious?"

[[The talkative Forest Guardian asks if you're curious about something. Do you have any questions for him?]

1. How was this forest created?

2. What kind of power is at work in the Underground Garden?

3. Where's the exit?

4. Who is Sleepyhead? How can I meet Sleepyhead?

…]

"I want to meet Sleepyhead. Is that possible?"

"Ah, if it's that, I can tell you. It's actually nothing special. After all, Sleepyhead really likes us."

"Us?"

"The Administrators! After all, we take good care of his garden while he sleeps! So, you just have to treat us well!"

Before the next option appeared, Seol quickly asked the next question.

"How can I treat you well?"

"Me? To make me like you?"

"Yes."

"I-If it's that… Just grant my request!"

"Alright. If you have a request for me, I will grant it."

"Really? Then, my request is…"

This part was the most crucial step for Seol’s plan against Azanic to work.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

The Forest Guardian's requests were always arbitrary. Sometimes, he asked to hunt down a wild boar destroying the ecosystem, and other times, to drive away a water snake lurking at the bottom of a lake.

If you handled these tasks on his behalf, you could receive a reward along with the seal. The reward was the poison of a being that had troubled him for a while.

That's what made Seol nervous.

'I don't have time to grant two requests.'

What poison he would receive would depend on what request he completed.

In the worst-case scenario, if it were a poison that couldn't harm Azanic, he would just have to flee.

'Getting rid of the giant bee would be the best option. The giant bee…'

Seol stared intently at the parrot's beak, waiting for what kind of request would come out of his mouth.

"Hmm… I have so many worries. What should I ask for? Lizards are troublesome, and so are the swarm of mosquitoes. There are also the birds that make the fruits go rotten!"

"Bees…"

"Did you say something? Anyway, there are a lot of things that must be done in the forest. I'm busy with work every day. So I can't rest properly… When Sleepyhead wakes up, I'll ask for a change. Don't you think so?"

"Bees…"

"Huh? Bees? You said bees?"

"No…"

The Forest Guardian tilted his head, and then his eyes widened.

"Yes! Bees! I'll ask you that!"

"If it's that…"

"Bee! The giant bees! Some human helped me before, but they quickly multiplied again. It's hard dealing with them because getting to their area is hard."

Seol's expression brightened up.

"Oh no! That's bad! If we don't deal with the giant bees soon, they will keep growing! Giant bees keep growing as they age. Just hearing the sound of their wings is terrifying!"

"That's right… Ah, but why do you know so much about them?"

As the Forest Guardian shrank and asked, Seol grinned.

"Leave the giant bees to me. This time, I've come properly prepared."

"This time…?"

"Anyway…"